Will 2011 be the year we emerge from the dark and back into the days of old??

The wait is almost over…on April 21, the California State Fish & Game Commission will decide on what the 2011 inland (Central Valley) Chinook salmon fishing seasons are going to look like.

We have here the proposed seasons that the Commission will be looking at, based on the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s recommendation of a 61,400 Sacramento River fall run Chinook salmon harvest guideline for the Central Valley
river salmon fisheries. Click here to read more…

Big salmon like this Smith River king are great for the economies of coastal towns!

Hhey all you politicians that don’t give a rat’s arse about fish, it’s time take note: Healthy salmon runs are good for the economy. Need I break it down further? Okay, here’s one you might understand: Salmon = Money. Got it?

Read all about how the Smith River’s epic king run last fall provided the a good boost to several downtrodden economies of Northern California in the WALL STREET JOURNAL Also, check out the cameo from our pal John Klar.

And for every one of you who benefited from the Smith’s kings (guides, tackle shops, gas stations, hotels and restaurants), it’s time to bust open the wallet and give a donation to the non-profit Rowdy Creek Fish Hatchery…Without it, you’re probably out of a job!

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It may be beautiful above water, but things aren't so rosy under the Delta's surface.

A new report regarding the health of the fisheries in the California Delta has just been released and…big surprise…things don’t seem to be looking all that great.

The Delta is a complex system that houses gamefish like Chinook salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, striped bass, largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, American shad, catfish and panfish…along with important forage species such as delta smelt, threadfin shad, splittail and many others. The problems that plague it are just as multifaceted: Water diversions are a huge killer, as is pollution and habitat loss.

You can read all about the decline and what biologists found in recent trawl studies HERE

The salmon opener on the American River, after three years of closures, was pretty nice for us as we had 4 opportunities and ended up landing 2 kings today, including this nice bright hen and a blushed up 25-pound buck that we released.

It’s been a loooong time since I had a chance to chase kings on my home stream, the American River…but the wait ends Saturday morning at dawn. Closed for three seasons in response to the Central Valley’s epic Chinook collapse, apparently biologists feel there will be enough fish in 2010 to allow for a limited, 1-month season.

Admittedly, I’m not expecting action on par with the good ol’ days (like 2002’s banner season in the photo above), but I think maybe the run’s on the rebound now and that we’ll have a shot at some nice fish. And, it’s just going to be nice to get back out there and even have a shot again after all this time off!